Method of making turbine-blades.



BATENTED MAR. 13, 1906. A. G. E. RATEAU & G. SAUTTER. METHOD OF MAKINGTURBINE BLADES.

UNrT n STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTE OAMILLE EDMOND RATEAU AND GASTON SAUTTER, OF PARIS, FRANCE,ASSIGNORS TO RATEAU TURBINE COMPANY, OF'CHIOAGO,

ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

METHOD OF MAKING TURBINE-BLADES.

- No. 814,804. Specification of Todll/ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, AUGUsTE OAMILLE EDMOND RATEAU and GASTON SAUTTER,residing at Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement inMethods of Making Turbine-Blades, which improvement is fully set forthin the following specification.

This invention relates to a method of constructing the blades or vanesfor the moving wheels of turbine-engines; and its object is tomanufacture these blades in quantities with the minimum expense forlabor and material.

Preferably our improved method consists informing an oblong blank fromsheet metal, bending said blankinto a U shape, curving the arms of the Ulaterally and oppositely with respect to each other, and finallydividing the blank by a transverse out across the base of the U, wherebytwo separate similar blades are produced. These'operations mayconveniently be performed by means of stamping and punching machinery;but it will be evident that any suitable tools may be provided for thework, the invention being not dependent upon the function of anyparticular machine.

Wewill describe our invention more particularly by reference to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate the successive steps in ourimproved process and also illustrate the preferred mechanism by whichthe several operations may be accomplished.

-Figure 1 shows one of the oblong blanks. Fig. ,2 shows how a number ofthese blanks may be out from a metal sheet. Fig. 3 shows a pair of diesby which the blank may be bent into the U shape and the required curvethereof imparted to-the arms at the same time. Fig. 4 shows a punch orcutter for forming tangs at the ends of the blades, these tangs beingfor the purpose of riveting to a metal frame or tire. Fig. 5 shows theblank bent into the U shape, as by-the dies illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig.6 shows the two parts of the blank separated by having'a doublycurvedstrip punched out from the central portion of the base. Fig. 7 shows thecompleted blade, and Fig. 8 shows a portion of the moving wheel withseveral blades in position thereon adapted to be secured by rivets. Thefirst step in ourmethod is to cut out Letters Patent. Patented March 13,1906.

Application filed June 3,1904. Serial Ni). 211.037.

' by punching or otherwise a sheet-metal blank 0 the form shown in Fig.1, the end portions than the central portion 4 thereof. The blank isthen bent into the U shape shown in Fig. 5, the laterally and oppositelywith respect to each other. These operations can conveniently beperformed by the dies illustrated in Fig. 3, which are adapted to bendthe blank into the U shape and impart the required curvature to the armsthereof in the same operation. When the ends of the blank are of greaterwidth than the central portion thereof, said curvature of the armsbrings the lateral edges of the U into alinement. This U- shaped blankis now ready to be formed into two turbine-blades by cutting ittransversely across the base of the U.. Preferably this transverse cutis formed by punching out an elliptical-shaped piece 8 from the centralportion of the base .4. The turbine-blades thus formed will thereforehave bases'which are curved at the rear edges to fit the curvature ofanother turbine-blade placed directly behind, as shown in Fig.8.

The turbine-blades are intended to be riveted to the periphery of theturbine-wheel, and the rivet-holes 9 9 may be punched out of the baseportion 4 of the blank at the same time that said base portion issevered by the transverse out. It is further intended that a metal rimor tire 13 shall encircle the turbine-wheel and be fastened in place byriveting to the blades. \Ve therefore preferably form a tang 12 at theextremity of each blade by means of a cutter (shown in Fig. 4) or by anyother suitable mechanism.

Having thus described our invention, We claim- 1. The herein-describedmethod of making turbine-blades in pairs, which consists in forming anoblong blank from sheet metal, bending said blank into a U shape,curving the arms of the U laterallyand op ositely with respect to eachother, and dividing the blank by a transverse cut across the base of theU, whereby two separate similar blades are produced.

2. The herein-described method of making turbine-blades in pairs, whichconsists in forming an oblon blank into a U shape, im-

parting a similar ut opposite lateral curva-' of the blank beingpreferably slightly wider arms of the U being curved 20 tion of lessWidth than the ends ture to the arms of the U, two similar L-shapedparts, and impartin to the edge of the severed end of each bla eacontour adapted to conform to. the exterior 5 curvature of the otherblade.

3. The method of making turbine-blades, which consists in stamping outfrom a sheet of metal an oblong blank, bending said blank into a U shapeand simultaneously therewith imparting concave inner and convex outersurfaces to the arms of the U, dividing the blank by a transverse cutacross the base of the U into two similar blades and imparting a concaveedge to the severed end of each blade, adapted to conform to theexterior curvature of the other blade.

4; The method of making turbine-blades, which consistsin stamping outfrom a sheet of metal an oblong blank having a central porof the blank,

, bending the ends of the blank at an angle severing the U into I withthe central a U shape;

portion to form arting conand simultaneous y therewith im cave inner andconvex outer sur aces, to the arms thereby bringing the sides of thearms into alinement with the base of the U, and severing the U into twoparts by punching out an elliptical piece from'the central portion ofthe base; whereby two similar turbine-blades are produced, each bladehavin a base with an inwardly-curved rear edge adapted to conform to theexterior curvature of a similar blade.

In testimony whereof We have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

AUGUSTE CAMILLE EDMOND RATEAU. GASTON SAUTTER.

Witnesses:

JEAN VAUoHEx, HANSON C. CoxE.

